Morning journal and courier., 1887-04-18
DOWN IN FLORIDA.

Monday, April IS, 1887.
 DOWN IN FLORIDA.
 An Abundance of Oysters-The Big Tarpon-KilIinga a Pahther-A North Havener,s Luck i'm Hunting Birds of Rare Plumase and AlliEators or SEC How the Poor Seminole Indians Fare-The Indian River Region i'm General.
 ST. LUcIE, Fla, April 4.-The winter tour ists have nearly all left the Indian river country andI believe carry with them the
 most kindly feelings for it's surroundings. No climate that I have ever known can equal this. Very little change in temperature the year round. The river abounds in oysters, large and fine, and countless numbers of fish. The country furnishes abundance of game plumed birds, deer, alligators, ducks, wild cat and panther. A panther was killed three miles from here last week that measured
 nine feet. It is no uncommon occurrence
 for fish to jump in our boats. One night last week one of our men was rowing me to the postoffice when a large pompino made a leap, and had he not have made mistake and struck the boatman's oar, would have caromed directly on my head. After that kept my mouth shut, for have great dis like for uncooked fish. Tarpon fishing, l
 believe, is more exciting than almost any
 other kind. They range in size from fifty to
 one hundred and fifty pounds. When they
 take the hook they will jump ten to fifteen feet in the air, and shake their head
 the angler is lucky who can secure one. The scales are beautiful and large as the top of teacup. Large numbers of sharks and sawfsh are caught in the nets of the fishermen. Seth Shares, of North Haven, has been one of our sojeurners this winter and has been very successful as a hunter. Many plumed birds and alligators have fallen vic- tins to his unerring aim. His first alligator was anywhere from five to fifty feet in length. Among the patrons of our store are the Sem inole Indians. They gain their livelihood principally from the sale of deer and cattle hides and other skins and bird plumes. They have brought to us many as five hundred plumes within the last week. They are very pleasant and kindly disposed and their word is good gold, more trustworthy than many of the whites.
 The members of our company are all in good order and severally and jointly in love with the country. Our purchase is the finest on the river and from it's nearness to the inlet we will always be sure of fine fishing. We have had our possessions plated and ex- pect in two or three years first class city Our store is the only prominent one in fifty miles of us, and consequently we do large business. We are so to speak, pioneers in this country so far as improvements are concerned. Our mail service is poor. We have no church, saloon or jail or court house in ninety miles of us, but the time for inno- vations must soon come and the Indian river be made the Eden of. this country.
 The friendly mosquito and the diligent flea are introducing themselves to our notice, but we must post this letter. They may mourn our departure, but we will ever cher ish them in memory and know that it is not rude to scratch in company. We leave for New Haven in day or so. Q. H. A Meeting of the Painters, Union at
 Which Many Addresses Afe Made.
 The Painters union held meeting Satur- day evening at the Boardman building, about one hundred and fifty attending. George W. Seymour presided. Charles B. Leonard of the Hartford union was the first speaker. He was followed by Edward E. Conklin, master workman of the Painters Progressive union of New York city. Then in turn came John w. Jones, walking delegate of the Painters Progressive union of New York; J. w. Will cox, colored representative of the Knights of Labor of New Orleans; Richard w. Moxley, secretary of the Machinists' union; Master Workman Hunie of this city and George w. Dockman, President Seymour, James J. Phe- Ian, c. H. Porter, James w. Barker. During the meeting letters were read from unions in Philadelphia, Newark and Brooklyn. They advised the strikers to hold out.
 CHURCH PROCESSION.